8 Tricks for the Best Healthy Chili

Learn how to make chili even tastier with our tricks for the best chili.

Chili is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. More than simply delicious, healthy chili is an easy one-pot meal made
with ingredients you already have on hand, and can easily be stretched to feed a crowd on football Sundays or after a
long day of raking or shoveling. Use these simple tricks to make chili healthy but still hearty and satisfying.

Chili Trick #1: Season Boldly

Using generous amounts of spice in your chili is a great way to add great flavor without any added fat or calories.
Classic chili spices include chili and cumin (and cayenne for those who like it really hot). Have fun experimenting with
different seasonings; cinnamon and allspice can add wonderful depth of flavor, like in our Pork & Plantain Chili.

Chili Trick #2: Choose Lean Protein

To make a classic beef chili that’s still healthy, choose beef that is at least 90%-lean, which fits into the USDA
guidelines for lean meats. Or opt for lean and flavorful ground turkey breast instead.

Chili Trick #4: Add Whole Grains

Make chili into a one-pot meal by adding whole grains, as in our Zesty Wheat Berry-Black Bean Chili. The
wheat berries add fiber which keeps you fuller, longer. Wheat berries are also a great source of B vitamins, iron,
magnesium and zinc.

Chili Trick #6: Watch Out for Added Sodium

Half-Hour Chili is a quick and easy meal to put
together with ingredients from the pantry. Be wary when shopping, though: choose no-salt-added canned tomatoes and
reduced-sodium broths to control salt levels in your chili. And be sure to rinse canned beans before using to
significantly reduce sodium levels.

Chili Trick #7: Brighten Flavors with Acidic Ingredients

Adding a splash of lime juice or cider vinegar to your chili at the end of cooking helps to brighten the dish and add
another layer of complexity to the flavor. And no one will know you took a shortcut with canned beans and chilies to make
our White Chili—the acidity will give your dish a
garden-fresh taste.